Monday, July 30, 2007

Rock Lobster will allow us to charge $5 at the door and all proceeds collected will go to Kimiko, Micah and the other family! We will have access to the front and back bars and the event will be open to the general public.

Friday, July 27, 2007

I spoke to my ex-boyfriend, Micah, last night and there are a few updates.

1. From his conversation with investigators, it was almost certainly arson. A random arson that they don't think they'll probably be able to solve since there is so little physical evidence.

2. From his initial discussions with the insurance folks, nothing of mine will be covered by insurance. So that's a bit of a blow and something I'm going to have to look into with my attorney.

3. As we thought, absolutely NOTHING will be salvaged. The house is a complete loss and will likely be bulldozed. Everything inside, of course, was incinerated, and the few things that weren't will have too much smoke and/or water damage to salvage.

Still no update on the other family (what their situation is -- I know they were renting and I doubt they had renter's insurance; what they need, where they're staying, what size clothes they need or anything like that).

As for those of you who would like to help out, please contact one of the following people:

Officially I can begin moving into my new place in Broad Ripple this Wednesday, Aug. 1. Furniture donations can be dropped off there on or after that date and if you have anything that you'd like to be mailed there, that can be done as well. Just contact one of the people above for the mailing address.

Click here for the news story, pictures and video (just keep in mind that it is NOT known whether it actually started at my house or not, according to the public information officer I spoke to, so that's misinformation. The rest, though, gives you an idea of what happened.

Now, 14 hours later, I still haven’t slept and am stuck in a bit of a state of shock. But I am absolutely counting my blessings. Luckily, I wasn’t home at the time, my son was in California, and everyone in the house next door got out safely. Nobody was hurt, although my dog and cat were both killed (and that’s the one thing I’m rather emotional about).

Still, it could have been worse and what it all boils down to is that stuff ­– furniture, clothes, etc. – can be replaced. My animals, of course, cannot. Things like yearbooks, photos. momentos and memorabilia can’t either. But it’s all still just stuff, and I was trying to purge anyhow as I was scheduled to move to Broad Ripple a week from today (Aug. 1).

As overwhelming and surreal as this whole ordeal has been, I am even more overwhelmed by the support that I’ve been receiving from all of you. Many people have called or e-mailed to check on me, to offer a place to stay, to offer items (couches, dishes, silverware, artwork, etc.) so that I can rebuild my “home.” Many have donated cash so that I can go get things like toiletries and basic clothing to get me through as I enter this “rebuilding” phase. And the response has been so great, and I am just SO touched and SO appreciative of all that you are offering and doing for me. I am the type of person that has a very hard time asking for help, but there has been such a tremendous outpouring of support and I know that I don’t even have to ask because whatever I need will be provided.

I know that with all the offers of support and housewares, that Ricky and I will land on our feet. The place we’re moving into next week is significantly smaller than the homes we’ve been living in the past few years – it’s just a small, two-bedroom bungalow that won’t require a whole lot of furniture to fill. I will need to start from literally from scratch ­–towels, dishes, bedding, bedroom furniture, living room furniture, etc. – as NOTHING in the house will be salvagable. This isn’t the best picture, but it’s a phone pic from the backyard looking in:http://www.facebook.com/photo.php?pid=62886&id=501548772

In any case, I know that I have offers for various items that I will need and I extend the biggest, sincerest THANK YOU to you all.

I’m not sure exactly how to coordinate this yet, but I will keep you all posted as I figure out how to best deal with this mess. Additionally, for those who are wanting to contribute, I’m urging that you also consider that three families were actually affected in this blaze – myself and Ricky, my ex-boyfriend Micah Faidley (who also lost all of HIS belongings), and our next-door neighbors – a mother and father with three little boys and a grandmother, who most certainly don’t have the extended support network that I have with all of you. I have yet to speak to them to see what their needs are and how they’re going to proceed, but I would love to be able to offer them superflous housewares and furniture that I won’t be able to use, for those of you who would be up to offering.

On that note, I DO have a place to stay for the next few days. I DO have a car and a couple of changes of clothes. I DO have cash (thanks to all of YOU) to go buy some necessities. And I DO have hope that all of this is somehow a blessing in disguise.

Again, THANK YOU ALL for all that you are doing for me and are continuing to do on my behalf. I am positively overwhelmed by the support. And as a single mother who is far, far away from any family, this support network is truly touching and I can’t express just how grateful I am.

Bedroom: Full or queen bed, twin bed or bunk beds (we had two twin mattresses and were planning on buying a bunkbed frame – but beggars can’t be choosers!), bedding for twin and full/queen, dressers, nightstand, etc.

Had to say it, because I think it's funny, and I'm a hag so I'm allowed.Came from the Metro (karaoke night with Dannon and the rest of the regular crew) celebrating Leah's best friend Michael's recent success (record deal and moving to L.A.). Came back to a blocked-off street and finding out that my house and the house next door had essentially burned down.My first email on the subject is below:

---------Date: Wed, 25 Jul 2007 6:34:27 -0400

I don't know how I keep getting these things thrown at me, but it's 6:15a.m. and I haven't slept yet.The basicsI came home from karaoke to find my entire neighborhood blocked off bypolice and at least six or seven fire trucks. My house and two otherscaught fire. Mine and the house next door were completely gutted.Everything I own is gone. My dog and cat were killed. They'reinvestigating it, obviously, and arson is a possibility. Luckily, Iwasn't home at the time, but I am pretty devastated, more about myanimals than my stuff. It's truly horrible and I feel terrible.Anyhow, all of the fire stuff wrapped up around 4 or 5, I don't know,because we got ready to leave and found out that there was a policechasing a suspect on foot, with police dogs, and the neighborhood was onlockdown. We got pulled into a newsvan and pretty much have had nowhereto go since.So I'm now at starbucks, waiting for daylight so I can go back to thehouse and see what, if anything, is salvagable. Then I will likely,finally, go to sleep. So I'm not sure at what point I'll be in. I knowKris has some things that need to be looked at pretty immediately. Imight try to swing by before I go to sleep.My whole world is turned upside-down, though, right now and I reallycan't guarantee anything.Anyway, I just wanted you to know what was going on. That's all I knowright now. Please keep me in your prayers.Thank you.

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About Me

Kimiko Martinez is ... a social change advocate and adventurer (with a strong Wonder Woman complex) on a mission to change the world. Part-time poet and Kerouac junky always on the lookout for interesting characters and the opportunity to cross state lines.